For many adventurers, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is the ultimate dream. Every year, this majestic mountain attracts thousands of experienced hikers who embark on a challenging journey to reach its snowy peak. It’s one of Africa Safaris sort after adventure! If you’re considering taking on this iconic climb, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your trip.
Choose your route There are six main routes in Kilimanjaro National park to climb Kilimanjaro, each with its own length, level of difficulty, and success rates. The route you choose will depend on your budget, the duration of your trip, and the tour company you book with. Here’s a brief overview of the primary routes: 1.
Marangu: This route is nicknamed “the Coca-Cola route” because of the huts along the way where hikers can rest and purchase refreshments. However, it actually has a low success rate due to many underestimating the challenge and rushing to the summit in just five days without proper acclimatization. 2.
Machame: This is the most popular route, with a success rate of over 60% when completed in seven days. It is also known as “the whiskey route” for its more challenging terrain. 3.
Rongai: The easiest route on Kilimanjaro, but also the least scenic and more expensive due to the limited number of budget operators in the area. 4. Shira: This route involves gaining a lot of altitude early on and joining the Machame route later.
It’s demanding and costly, as it starts from the wes.